Electrifying.com, New AutoMotive and BatteryIQ have called on the UK Government to introduce mandatory battery State of Health (SoH) certificates for all dealer-sold used EVs.
The organisations argue the move would remove a barrier to mainstream EV adoption, and consumers “deserve the same level of transparency” around EV battery health as they expect from an MOT certificate, service history or mileage record.
The three organisations said mandatory battery health certificates would give buyers greater confidence, reward owners who have properly maintained their vehicles, and create a transparent benchmark across the used market.
According to research by Electrifying.com and The AA of more than 13,000 UK drivers, battery condition remains one of the biggest concerns for those who haven’t switched to an EV – just 3% of drivers said they felt confident buying a used electric vehicle.
But 38% said an independently verified battery health certificate would increase their confidence in purchasing an EV.
Recent independent analysis also shows battery health is much better than consumers expect. Testing of more than 8,000 electric vehicles found an average battery State of Health of more than 95%, with many vehicles covering well over 100,000 miles while retaining more than 90% of their original battery capacity.
Instead, the issue is not battery health but a “lack of clear, independent information available when a vehicle is sold”, the organisations said.
The call comes as the used EV market gathers momentum with figures from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) revealing used EV salary sacrifice agreements rose by 474% over the past year, while used personal contract hire increased by 484%, and used business contract hire grew by 50%.
The organisations are calling on Government to work with industry to introduce a nationally recognised battery State of Health standard that can be applied consistently across manufacturers and retailers.
Ginny Buckley, Founder of Electrifying.com, said:
“Experts can keep telling car buyers they have nothing to worry about, but our research shows that message simply isn’t landing. It’s not enough to dismiss the concerns about battery life shared by the majority of those drivers who haven’t yet switched to an EV – we need to address them.
“We’re asking consumers to make one of the biggest purchases of their lives without one of the most important pieces of information. A standardised battery health certificate would give buyers the transparency and confidence they deserve. Given how important the used market is to the UK’s transition to electric cars, this feels like a genuine no-brainer.”
Ben Nelmes, Chief Executive of New AutoMotive, said:
“The next stage of Britain’s transition to electric vehicles will be driven by the used market. Every new EV sold today becomes tomorrow’s affordable family car.
“Government policy has done a good job creating supply, but the challenge now is stimulating demand. Battery health certificates are a practical, proportionate reform that would strengthen consumer confidence without requiring expensive subsidy schemes.”
Nick Bailey, Founder of BatteryIQ, said:
“Battery health is probably the single biggest unanswered question for used EV buyers, yet it’s also one of the easiest things to measure accurately.
“We already have the technology. We already know how to assess battery condition consistently. The missing piece is making that information available as standard.
“A battery State of Health certificate should become as routine as an MOT certificate. It would create a trusted benchmark for buyers, support stronger residual values and give consumers the confidence they deserve when choosing a used electric car.”
Image courtesy of Green Car Guide
